Antismog device for cleaning, burning and muffling the exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes of internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

An anti-smog device for cleaning and muffling exhaust gases and engine compartment vapors of internal combustion engines; comprising: a fume collecting funnel, a casing connected with the exhaust pipes of the engines; the casing being arrayed externally with a fluid level indicator, necessary inlet, outlet and conducting tubing, with an after burning ignition device suitably connected with the interior of the casing; where the internal structure mainly comprises a funnel shaped chamber, connected at the narrow end to a perforated tube with a return elbow, and faced by a multibladed impeller; further comprising a chamber filled with catalytic copper shavings, said chamber partially surrounding said perforated tube, the casing further being filled to about half of its narrowest width with a gas absorbing chemical solution.

United States Patent Rosa [54] ANTISMOG DEVICE FOR CLEANING, BURNING ANDMUFFLING THE EXHAUST GASES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUMES OF INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES 51 Oct. 10, 1972 3,495,385 2/1970 Glass ..60/30 LFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,459,584 10/1966 France ..60/310Primary Examiner-Douglas Hart [72] Inventor: Juan Rosa, 1835 PedroMendoza, ,m J h Munz Buenos Aires, Argentina 22 Filed: July 23, 1970[571 ABSTRACT [21] APPL No; 57 432 An anti-smog device for cleaning andmuffling exhaust gases and engine compartment vapors of internalcombustion engines; comprising: a fume collecting funnel, [52] US. Cl..60/297, 23/277 C, 60/902 a casing connected with the exhaust pipes ofthe en- [51] Int. Cl ..F0 1n 3/14 gines; the casing being arrayedexternally with a fluid [58] Field of Search..60/30 R, 30 L, 29 A;23/277 C, level indicator, necessary inlet, outlet and conducting 23/2 Ctubing, with an after burning ignition device suitably connected withthe interior of the casing; where the [56] References Cit d internalstructure mainly comprises a funnel shaped chamber, connected at thenarrow end to a perforated UNITED STATES PATENTS tube with a returnelbow, and faced by a multibladed llerfurther com risin a chamber filledwith 1,985,713 12 1934 Bartlett ..60 30 R 2 004 865 611935 Gris'on v60:30 R catalytic copper shavings, sald chamber partially sur- 26027307/1952 "60/30 L rounding said perforated tube, the casing further being2795103 6 1957 l 'f 30R filled to about half of its narrowest width witha gas a s eIIIsOI'I no o absorbing chemical Solution. 2,985,255 5/1961Clark ..60/30 R 3,032,967 5/1962 I Dosie ..60/30 R 9 Claims, 8 DrawingFigures p I 7 9Z -12:

6 E 4d i h Id l 0 b 8 E 5 I20 2 l m l PATENTEnnm 10 m2 SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG.2

mvnu'ron JUAN ROSA ATTORNEY PATENTI-fflncr 10 m2 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTORJUAN ROSA BY f z ATTORN EY ANTISMOG DEVICE FOR CLEANING, BURNING ANDMUFFLING THE EXHAUST GASES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUMES OF INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES FIELD OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTMany designs and modes of construction of antismog and muffling devicesare known to muffle and detoxify exhaust gases of internal combustionengines.

Many of these devices are only partially effective or else they arecomplicated in their design, expensive to manufacture, and most of themcannot be readily serviced to replace or replenish chemical fluids andcatalysts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention addresses itself to the problemof overcoming these deficiencies.

The invention refers to a device for cleaning and silencing exhaustgases. This device is mounted in the exhaust system of internalcombustion engines and has for its object a novel arrangement to permit,the removal of the toxic residual combustion products; as likewise bymeans of a complementary device, to ignite the raw gases expelled fromthe engine in an unburned state. Unbumed exhaust gases are commonespecially in Diesel-type engines due to wear or defective setting ofthe injection pump. Said device furthermore serves as an efficientsilencer of the exhaust noises.

- The device of the invention also including a funnel to collect engineroom fumes consists of a casing holding a certain quantity of liquid,preferably cuprous chloride in ammonia solution or some othergas-absorbing chemical solution. A funnel-shaped chamber ishalfsubmerged in said liquid, its inlet covered by the liquid and closedby a blade impeller facing a tube conducting the engine exhaust gasesinto the casing against the impeller.

The narrow end of said chamber is submerged within the liquid and isprovided with a perforated elbowed section which is connected by areturn pipe with a return elbow which, opens toward the bladed impelleradjacent to the gas inlet tube. The exhaust gases flow through saidchamber, passing through said liquid and repeating the cycle through thereturn pipe.

A filter of copper shavings surrounds and is located above theperforated elbow section. Said filter is enclosed by means of partitionswhich force the gases exhausting through said perforated elbow, to passthrough the mass of shavings, flowing through the perforated elbowsection,,to pass through said filter of shavings. Said gases then leavethrough a series of orifices provided in one of said partitions passingto a chamber formed between said partitions and a portion of the casingwall. Vapor of the liquid charge and residual gases are conductedthrough at least two circulating tubes, thus returning to the gas inlettube, where they are once more submitted to the same cycle.

Said chamber is furthermore provided with an outlet turbine leading tothe atmosphere to release the highpressure gases, which are unchanged,through the passages provided by the several tubing connections. Theyare thus released to the atmosphere due to their own expansion, withoutcausing any noises. If these gases released to the atmosphere throughthe outlet tube contain a percentage of raw unburned gas mixtures, theyare ignited by at least one of the incandescent sparking plugs arrangedinside the tube and connected with the engine ignition. Said outlet tubeis connected, an non-opposing points, by means of tubular connectors,with the circulation tubes, the inlets of which do not coincide, toaspirate said high-pressure gases and vapor from the liquid charge.

In this manner, the gases from the engine are washed and stripped of thecarbonaceous residual particles, p'urified by means of their contactwith the liquid charge contained in the casing, and expelled to theatmosphere due to their own expansion, without producing noises.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment is illustrated inthe drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, in part section through a horizontal planepassing through the chamber and illustrating the upper partitionlimiting same, partially sectioned.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal plane section, showing the said chamber and thefunnel-shaped chamber, partially in section.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cut through a vertical plane.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sections through AA and BB, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inside arrangement of said casing,shown in broken lines and, finally:

FIG. 8 illustrates applying the apparatus to an automobile engine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like numerals represent like orsimilar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In one of its preferred embodiments, in accordance with theabove-mentioned attached figures, the device consists of a casing, thearrangement of which is shown generally by the reference 1, consistingof a tubular surface la, closed by two bolted end covers 1b and 1c,provided with respective sealing means 2. Cover 10 is furnished .with atransparent level gage 1d and two pipes 1e and 1f, closed by means ofthreaded plugs and arranged in the lower and upper part, respectively,of said cover 1c.

An elbowed tube 3, the outer end of which is connected to the end of theengine exhaust tube, enters casing 1 through the tubular surface la,adjacent to cover lb.

The inside of the casing l is provided with a funnelshaped chamber 4,arranged to seat against the lower portion of the tubular surface 1awith its inlet 4a facing and separated from the cover 1b of said case I.Said inlet 4a is fronted by a bladed impeller 5 mounted on a tional datais referred to the normal location of the".

device. The surfaces of the blades of impeller 5 are provided with aplurality of circular depressions 5a, distributed throughout thesurfaces of identical homologous faces of all the blades 5.

Chamber 4, at the opposite end thereof, terminates in a tapered tubularsection which continues in an elbowed tube 4b having a plurality oforifices 40 following this 180 elbow portion and continuing in astraight constant section 4d located along the length of casing l andhaving, adjacent to cover lb, another return facing the bladed impeller5.

The volume of easing 1 is in this manner divided into two mutuallyhermetically divided parts by means of said chamber 4. These parts areintercommunicated by means of orifices 40 while the inlet to saidchamber 4 covers the entire inner section of casing 1.

One portion of the interior volume, limited by chamber 4, iscompartmented by means of partitions 6 and 7, thus creating a cellwithin said portion of the inside volume. This cell is filled withcopper shavings 8. Partition 7 is in part provided with a plurality oforifices 7a communicating with the'compartment filled with shavings 8andthus communicating said compartment with a chamber 9 limited bypartitions 6 and 7, cover 10 and the upper portion of the tubularsurface la, forming the side of casing 1. This chamber 9 is providedwith an outlet tube 10 for discharging the high-pressure gases and vvapors to the outside atmosphere. Two smaller-diameter tubes 11communicate said chamber 9 with elbow tube 3 serving as inlet for theengine exhaust gases. Said tubes 11 are in turn connected by means oftubular legs 11' with outlet tube 10, said connections being staggeredfrom one another in such a manner as to avoid their inlet meeting. Theobject of this arrangement is that the suction created by the exhaustgas inlet may entrain the residual gases and vapors at remote points inorder to block their discharge, the remainder of such gases and vaporsbeing burned with the aid of electrical means, such as incandescentspark plugs.

Tube 10, at a portion of its extension, is provided with one or severalignition spark plugs (10a), connected with the electrical ignitionsystem of the engine.

Up to one-half of the inner volume of casing 1 contains a liquidsolution 12 of carbon anhydrideand carbon monoxide-fixing chemicals.Examples thereof are cuprous chlorides in ammonia solution occupying thebottom part of said casing 1 the level line 12a of which coincidessubstantially with the axis of chamber inlet 4 and bladed impeller 5,the outlet from tube 3 being above said level and the elbow tube 4bbeing below same. Said level is visible through the control tube ofheat-proof transparent material 1d.

The device operates as follows: the engine exhaust gases the grease andoil volatization gases produced outside the engine due to heat radiatedthereby and likewise gases escaping through the engine metal pores andthe gases caused by leaks in the exhaust systems or vent and filleropenings, crankcase .covers, overhead valve compartment vents, etc., arechannelled by a collecting bell l4 and tubeline 13 interconnectingelbowed exhaust tube 3 are thus conducted to the interior of easing l,colliding with the blades of impeller 5, the depressions 5a of whichretain the solid particles in suspension (carbons and soot) entrained bythe combustion gases. The gases then, causing impeller 5 to rotate,enter into chamber 4 and are caused to pass through and mix with thesolution 12. The impurities are thus absorbed by the chemical insolution and the remainder under pressure exhausting through elbow 4btogether with a quantity of recalcitrant gases, which then pass throughthe mass of copper shavings and enter chamber 9through theorificesprovided in partition 7. In turn, the heat of these gases producesvapor, vapors and gases then passing together through the coppershavings catalyzing the constituents of the deleterious products in saidshavings 8.

These recalcitrant gases and the vapor return through the circulation orreturn pipes 11 towards the elbow tube 3, thus renewing the cycle butthis time relieved from pressure, their flow being caused by suctionexerted by the pressure passing through said tube 3.

Engine pressure, searching for the way of least resistance, ischannelled through outlet pipe lflconnected to the outside circulationtubes 11 by means of tube sections 11. Through same, the gases are againaspirated towards the engine exhaust inlet and residual gases are burntby one or several incandescent spark plugs arranged along their length,said incandescent spark plugs being connected with the engine systemignition. Pressure, on arriving at said outlet pipe, has diminished dueto the losses brought about by aforesaid devices and, consequently, thenoise produced by the outside exhaust thereof is substantially reduced,the device therefore having the effects of a silencer. In turn, thosegases which have not passed through orifices 4c of elbow tube 4bcontinue along the straight tube 4d until they exit opposite the bladedimpeller 5. The latter, due to turbine effect, forces the gases to passagain through chamber 4, thus repeating the cycle.

To control the level of the liquid charge, this apparatus is providedwith a visual level gauge 1d, as illustrated. However, same may bereplaced by float-type electromechanical devices, not shown in thedrawings, pipes 1e serving for liquid purging and pipe 1 f for liquidfilling or makeup. Covers lb and 1c are bolted on to permit maintenanceof the device and cleaning for renewing the copper shaving filter 8.

The invention as herein specified may be clearly understood and readilyput into practice and no further explanation should be required to thoseversed in the art.

It is evident that sundry charges as to construction and details may beintroduced without departing from the spirit of the present invention,as clearly set forth in the following claims.

Having thus particularly described and determined the nature of thepresent invention and the manner in which same is to be carried intopractice, it is declared that what is claimed as exclusive property andinvention is:

1. An antismog device for cleaning and muffling the exhaust gasesexiting from an exhaust pipe means of an internal combustion engine,comprising a hermetic casing the inside volume of which is divided by afunnelshaped chamber, the inlet to which encompasses the entire casingsection and faces the exit of said engine exhaust'pipe;

a rotary shaft;

a wheel having blades;

said inlet being closed by said blades of said wheel mounted for freerotation on said shaft crosswise thereto;

a perforated elbow tube;

said chamber, at the smaller end section thereof,

being extended by said perforated elbow tube continuing in a constantcross-section leg exiting opposite said blade wheel;

an upper partition arranged on the outside surface of said funnel-shapedchamber and dividing the interior of said casing into a forwardcompartment and a rear compartment;

a partially perforated plate;

the rear compartment having a chamber formed by said partiallyperforated plate secured to the casing wall and arranged around saidperforated elbow to provide passage means for the gases from the elbowtube into the chamber limited by a portion of the casing wall, saidpassage means being formed between said compartment and thelastmentioned chamber by a plurality of orifices in said plate;

a mass of filter material;

said rear compartment being substantially filled with said mass offilter material;

a channel with an outside exit being connected to inlet, the latterbeingadjacent to the bottom of said casing while the remaining portionof its surfaces form a downward slope from the perimeter of its inlettowards the smaller end th reof.

5. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1,

wherein there is included a gas collecting funnel designed to collectgases produced in the engine com partment, said being connected to theexhaust gas inlet tube, the draft of said funnel being forced by meansof the action of theventilating devices of said engine and by thesuction caused by the exhaust thereof.

6. An antismog device in'accordance with claim 1, wherein said mass offilter material consisting of copper shavings.

7. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein comprising twoaspirating pipes are connected by their ends to the said last-mentionedchamber and to the gas inlet tube, each aspirating pipe being connectedby means of a pipe connector to the gas outlet tube, the points ofconnection to said tube being staggered from one another, aspiratingpipes being capable of effecting suction of the gases, and vapors of theresidual liquid said last-mentioned chamber; at least two gas and vaporaspirating tubes;

said channel being equipped with electrical ignition organs that areadapted to be connected to the electrical system of the engine and beingconnected to said gas and vapor aspirating tubes connected to saidchannel and said gas inlet tube, said casing being charged toapproximately one half of its volume with a solution of chemicals, thelevel line of which coincides with the blade wheel shaft, the exit ofthe gas inlet tube being located above said level line and theperforated elbow tube being submerged below said line; aforesaid casingincluding members for controlling said level line; and means for fillingand purging the liquid solution.

2. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1,

- wherein said solution of chemicals is an ammonia cuprous chloridesolution.

3. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said casingbeing of elongated shape and oblong cross-section, its lateral shapebeing provided by a tubular surface closed at the ends by removablybolted covers one of which is provided with a transparent tube locatedperpendicularly to the liquid level line the ends thereof beingintercommunicated with the inside portion filled with liquid solutionand with the empty portion of said volume, respectively, there beingaffixed to aforesaid cover two pipes closed by removable plugs providingmembers for replenishing and purging the said solution. 7

4. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidfunnel-shaped chamber consists of an oblique angled oval surfacedefining a portion of its lateral surface, being perpendicular to theplane of the charge.

8. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gasoutlet tube exiting into the outside atmosphere is provided withignition spark plugs connected to the electrical system of the engine,said spark plugs being located in the rear part of the apparatus and onsaid gas outlet tube and same being capable of burning the residualgases discharged into the atmosphere.

9. An anti-smog device for collecting, cleaning, afterbuming andmuffling the exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes of internalcombustion engines, comprising:

means to collect engine compartment fumes;

means to draw said fumes together with the exhaust gases from saidengine compartment and to conduct said fumes with the exhaust gases intoa muffler casing;

a gas absorbing fluid in said muffler casing;

means in said muffler casing for cleaning, afterburning and mufflingsaid gases and fumes;

said casing comprising means to mix said gases and fumes with said gasabsorbing fluid;

said gas absorbing fluid being a solution for absorbing toxicconstituents of said gases and fumes;

a catalyst mass preparing said gases and fumes for afterburning;

chamber conduit means in said muffler casing for circulating said gasesand fumes through said gas absorbing fluid and said catalyst mass;

means to conduct said gases and fumes through an exit pipe having meansto ignite and burn gasand particles contained in said gases and fumes,and exhausting them to the atmosphere;

means to recirculate a portion of said gases and fumes with freshincoming exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes;

means to measure level of said gas absorbing fluid and to drain andreplenish same; means to service and replenish said catalyst mass.

I II

1. An antismog device for cleaning and muffling the exhaust gasesexiting from an exhaust pipe means of an internal combustion engine,comprising a hermetic casing the inside volume of which is divided by afunnel-shaped chamber, the inlet to which encompasses the entire casingsection and faces the exit of said engine exhaust pipe; a rotary shaft;a wheel having blades; said inlet being closed by said blades of saidwheel mounted for free rotation on said shaft crosswise thereto; aperforated elbow tube; said chamber, at the smaller end section thereof,being extended by said perforated elbow tube continuing in a constantcrosssection leg exiting opposite said blade wheel; an upper partitionarranged on the outside surface of said funnel-shaped chamber anddividing the interior of said casing into a forward compartment and arear compartment; a partially perforated plate; the rear compartmenthaving a chamber formed by said partially perforated plate secured tothe casing wall and arranged around said perforated elbow to providepassage means for the gases from the elbow tube into the chamber limitedby a portion of the casing wall, said passage means being formed betweensaid compartment and the last-mentioned chamber by a plurality oforifices in said plate; a mass of filter material; said rear compartmentbeing substantially filled with said mass of filter material; a channelwith an outside exit being connected to said lastmentioned chamber; atleast two gas and vapor aspirating tubes; said channel being equippedwith electrical ignition organs that are adapted to be connected to theelectrical system of the engine and being connected to said gas andvapor aspirating tubes connected to said channel and said gas inlettube, said casing being charged to approximately one half of its volumewith a solution of chemicals, the level line of which coinciDes with theblade wheel shaft, the exit of the gas inlet tube being located abovesaid level line and the perforated elbow tube being submerged below saidline; aforesaid casing including members for controlling said levelline; and means for filling and purging the liquid solution.
 2. Anantismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solution ofchemicals is an ammonia cuprous chloride solution.
 3. An antismog devicein accordance with claim 1, wherein said casing being of elongated shapeand oblong cross-section, its lateral shape being provided by a tubularsurface closed at the ends by removably bolted covers one of which isprovided with a transparent tube located perpendicularly to the liquidlevel line the ends thereof being intercommunicated with the insideportion filled with liquid solution and with the empty portion of saidvolume, respectively, there being affixed to aforesaid cover two pipesclosed by removable plugs providing members for replenishing and purgingthe said solution.
 4. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1,wherein said funnel-shaped chamber consists of an oblique angled ovalsurface defining a portion of its lateral surface, being perpendicularto the plane of the inlet, the latter being adjacent to the bottom ofsaid casing while the remaining portion of its surfaces form a downwardslope from the perimeter of its inlet towards the smaller end thereof.5. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein there isincluded a gas collecting funnel designed to collect gases produced inthe engine compartment, said being connected to the exhaust gas inlettube, the draft of said funnel being forced by means of the action ofthe ventilating devices of said engine and by the suction caused by theexhaust thereof.
 6. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1,wherein said mass of filter material consisting of copper shavings. 7.An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein comprising twoaspirating pipes are connected by their ends to the said last-mentionedchamber and to the gas inlet tube, each aspirating pipe being connectedby means of a pipe connector to the gas outlet tube, the points ofconnection to said tube being staggered from one another, aspiratingpipes being capable of effecting suction of the gases and vapors of theresidual liquid charge.
 8. An antismog device in accordance with claim1, wherein said gas outlet tube exiting into the outside atmosphere isprovided with ignition spark plugs connected to the electrical system ofthe engine, said spark plugs being located in the rear part of theapparatus and on said gas outlet tube and same being capable of burningthe residual gases discharged into the atmosphere.
 9. An anti-smogdevice for collecting, cleaning, afterburning and muffling the exhaustgases and engine compartment fumes of internal combustion engines,comprising: means to collect engine compartment fumes; means to drawsaid fumes together with the exhaust gases from said engine compartmentand to conduct said fumes with the exhaust gases into a muffler casing;a gas absorbing fluid in said muffler casing; means in said mufflercasing for cleaning, afterburning and muffling said gases and fumes;said casing comprising means to mix said gases and fumes with said gasabsorbing fluid; said gas absorbing fluid being a solution for absorbingtoxic constituents of said gases and fumes; a catalyst mass preparingsaid gases and fumes for afterburning; chamber conduit means in saidmuffler casing for circulating said gases and fumes through said gasabsorbing fluid and said catalyst mass; means to conduct said gases andfumes through an exit pipe having means to ignite and burn gas andparticles contained in said gases and fumes, and exhausting them to theatmosphere; means to recirculate a portion of said gases and fumes withfresh incoming exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes; means tomeasure level of said gAs absorbing fluid and to drain and replenishsame; means to service and replenish said catalyst mass.